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First Time Homebuyers: Chicago and Lincoln Park Illinois home buying, real estate listings, and homes for sale in Cook County, IL

Welcome > For Buyers > First Time Homebuyers ...

Buying Your First Home? Realtors Are Your Professional Guides. Make Sure You Choose a Top Expert.

You might be a bit afraid or intimidated by the whole process of buying your first home. As a top Chicago and Lincoln Park real estate expert, it's my job to guide you, from beginning to end.

I will take the time to go through each and every step of the buying process. There are no dumb questions!

Together, we will consider:

- How much can you really afford?

- How to qualify for a mortgage.

- How much cash you should put down.

- How to buy a home with little or nothing down.

- What it takes to get approved for financing. What banks and other financial institutions are looking for.

- How much your payments will be.

- The tax advantages of buying.

- Is renting or buying better for you?

Tell me a bit about your situation below. I'll get right back to you. There is absolutely no charge, and I offer this to you with no strings attached. Please fill out the form below...

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Buying Land and New Construction >How Easements Affect Your Land

It is extremely important to discover whether there are easements on undeveloped land you are thinking about buying. An easement is the legal right to use another person's land for a specific, acknowledged purpose. Easements can significantly affect your development and use of the property.

A typical easement might permit the use of a dirt fire road that cuts through both the neighbor's property and your land. The road provides access to both properties, and your neighbor has to drive through yours to get to his. The house you build has to be situated ten to fifteen feet away from this access road. If the road cuts through the middle of the lot, you might have difficulty finding room for the house you want to build.

Consult with your real estate agent, an attorney or a title researcher for accurate information about the easements. When making an offer on undeveloped land with an easement issue, be sure to include a contingency that you must approve of any existing easements, or the offer is null and void.

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Q	What was a sure way to accumulate wealth through the 1970s and early 1980s?
A	Many people made their fortunes in real estate during this period.
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Tod Pratt, REALTORŽ, real estate agent and broker for Chicago and Lincoln Park Illinois home listings, property and land for sale - NUMBER1EXPERT(tm)

Tod Pratt
Koenig& Strey
1940 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60614
312-475-4185
773-744-4433
Fax: 312-943-6500
tod@yourhomeinchicago.com
Tod has been successfully selling residential real estate full time for the past 16 years. Since the beginning of his real estate career, Tod has believed that good listening and communication skills are his keys in assisting his clients toward the successful search, purchase, and closing of their new home. In this service-oriented business, giving clients the timely, appropriate advice they need is what Tod strives to deliver to every client. In 1993 Tod received the GRI designation (Graduate Realtors Institute), and in 1994, the CRS designation (Certified Residential Specialist). Being the recipient of these designations shows Tod's professional commitment to his industry, and more importantly, to his clients. Tod has had much experience in assisting relocating corporate clients into their new city and home. Tod has been a recommended realtor of Johnson & Johnson, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Jannsen Pharmaceutical, along with many others. Tod specializes in the sale of the following downtown areas of Chicago: Lincoln Park, Gold Coast, The 'Loop', River North, River West, Wrigleyville, and Lakeview. Give Tod a call today and let him use his experience to help you find 'your home in Chicago'.

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